Syracuse, N.Y. -- A Skaneateles High School senior who transferred into the district last year claims he was cut from the basketball team because he’s black.

Khiary Gayle and his mother filed a racial discrimination complaint today with U.S. Department of Education's civil rights office, asking that he "be compensated for the harm done to him."

Gayle was the only one of 13 students who tried out for the varsity basketball team to be cut in November by coach Karl Norris, Gayle's affidavit said. The other 12 students are white.

Gayle went to Norris' classroom to ask about the decision, the affidavit said.

"He told me that he thought I should not be on the team because, he said, 'You're already a senior and you didn't grow up here. This team is about home-grown players,' " Gayle's affidavit said.

School Board President Evan Dreyfuss said today he could not comment on the complaint because he had not yet read it. Norris and Skaneateles Superintendent Philip D'Angelo could not be reached for comment.

Gayle was one of four black football players who transferred from other schools last year and played for Skaneateles. The district investigated to see if they met residency requirements, and found no violations.

Gayle's mother, Priscilla Gayle, said in her affidavit that the district's investigation into recruiting was race-driven. "It seems to me that the color of their skin caused a stir and the district started an internal investigation regarding whether Khiary and the other three black students had proper residency and whether they had been recruited," her affidavit said.